Lidge is back...on the DL

It may have taken a few extra days, but today the Phillies placed Brad Lidge back on the 15 day disabled list with inflammation in his right elbow. The move is retroactive to May 10, and Antonio Bastardo has been called up in the meantime to fill Lidge's place on the roster.

Lidge hadn't pitched in a game since last weekend after complaining about stiffness in his elbow earlier this week. An MRI revealed that there was no structural damage to the elbow, which had undergone surgery back in November, but there was some inflammation that may take some time to heal. So, Lidge goes back on the disabled list, and Jose Contreras will take his place as the closer until he's ready to pitch again.

This seems like the story of Brad Lidge ever since the 2008 World Series. Every time he takes a step forward to get back to that 2008 form, he ends up moving two steps back. Last year, he never was fully healthy, but tried to pitch through it and got shelled. This season, he's making sure that he's completely healthy, but he can't seem to get there. It's a shame, too. So far this year, he only has one save, but has just a 2.70 ERA in his appearances. Each time he had come out for the Phils, he had looked better and seemed like he was going to be more of the 2008 Brad Lidge than the 2009 version. Instead, he's back on the disabled list and isn't going to be playing for at least the next ten to 15 games. Hopefully, Jose Contreras can fill his shoes and pitch well, but he's never been the closer at any point of his career, and it's not what the Phillies signed him to be.

Regardless, it seems like the Phils can't get away from the injury bug so far this year. Lidge started it off back at the end of last season, and it's carried over to Jimmy Rollins, Carlos Ruiz, Ryan Madson, Joe Blanton, J.A. Happ and Brad Lidge again. After three years of staying healthy, this team is getting nailed with injuries so far this season. They're still in first place and playing well right now, but they're going to need to get some of their regulars back, and soon. I can only stand Wilson Valdez playing at shortstop for so long. At least Rollins should be back at the end of the month, and Ruiz should be back shortly as well, so the offense is coming back together. The pitching, on the other hand, is going to have to be held together for a little while until everyone gets healthy again.